Around the World in 80 Record Stores: A guide to the best vinyl emporiums on the planet Hardcover – 9 Oct. 2018

One of the great pleasures of being a record collector is visiting record shops. Yes, online shops are very convenient but there is nothing like the experience of flicking through boxes of old records looking for that gem or getting a curated selection of the latest releases to listen to handed to you by a member of staff.Whenever I travel I like to visit local record shops. Obviously this allows me to find new records, but it is also an excellent way to experience the different culture of that area.This book does an excellent job of listing 80 record shops of note from around the world. For each shop it states the type of music to be found there, the address, the date it opened, a one line summery and a reasonable amount of text covering the history as well as information about what makes that shop unique.I have been reading this slowly, looking up record shops I have been to, and I have really enjoyed the background information this has given me.As with any list there will always people who don’t like that their favorite isn’t included but that misses the point, a list like this can't be exhaustive and a shop not being on it isn't an insult. Although that is easy for me to say because my local, Phonica Records, is in there!It has already has me planning where to head to next…

In Around The World in 80 Record Stores, Marcus Barnes provides a vibrant reference for the well-traveled record-collector, with insight into vinyl emporiums from Reykjavik to Rio and New Orleans to Nairobi. Delving into the history and influence of these hubs for local music scenes, his descriptions give a great feel for each place and in doing so present the key elements of any record store worth its salt: knowledgeable but unpretentious staff, a well-curated selection and a welcoming vibe that allows you to get lost in your search for the next addition to your collection.As well as the biggest & best-known stores (HMV Oxford St, London; Amoeba Records, LA), Barnes also features quirky shops like dusty underground diggers delight The Thing in New York and heavy metal spot Crypt of the Wizard.I recently visited Amsterdam and hit both shops in the guide, Red Light Records and Rush Hour. It was great to be primed with destinations to connect with music on my travels and I can't wait to visit somewhere new knowing I can tune into the local music scene and pick up some great records.And that's exactly what this book is about, feeding your wanderlust and love of music in equal measure.

Good photos and information. The gift was appreciated and enjoyed

Lovely book to read. Unfortunately loots of store in the book are closed

I ordered a bunch of the books as give-aways for my vinyl loving friends - they all loved it!The only big minus was the delievery "service": amazon.co.uk did not even try to deliever, but stated 2 failed delievery attempts and returned the parcel to UK. My delievery address is a shard office space, always busy during daytime, we receive several delieveries per week. I could view that the parcel was still in Vienna, but it's not possible to contact amazon.co.uk. I had to order the whole bunch of books again...

Absolutely blinding. I’ve been buying vinyl for 20 years and reading this has made me want to visit every store mentioned and relive those familiar moments all over again! What a way to travel the world! Now to convince the wife.. Danni!!

Happy with it thanks 👍🏻

As a recent vinyl collector, I was pretty interested to read about all the other shops I have yet to visit, particularly those I can't travel to just yet situated in Brazil and Tokoyo. But Marcus really paints a clear image of what the experience in each store is like. I could almost smell the coffee beans on sale in 12 Tónar, Reykjavik for example.The only qualm I have is the lack of Irish stores listed. I realise the book can only focus on 80 stores but I believe All City Records in Dublin should have been included, particularly as it's a multi-disciplinary space selling spray cans as well as records, tying two worlds of art (graffiti) and music together under one roof.Tiny other qualm...Rye Wax in Peckham is definitely a great spot with a welcoming atmosphere and very helpful, personal staff who you'll be on first name basis with immediately after the first visit. I feel the bigger London stores listed in the book don't quite have the same approach as the close-knit Rye Wax team but maybe I'm biased because I love the store so much lol.All in all, I'm delighted to add this book to my collection of mismatched coffee table reads and look forward to passing it on to other vinyl heads who are keen to explore record stores beyond the confines of London.